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Wednesday, 9 February 2011

The Birds – my feathered friends ...

Birds of a feather flock together as Shakespeare put it, in Timon of Athens:

“I am not of that feather to shake it off
My friend, when he most need me.”

Certainly since the heaviest and most widespread snows starting in November, so early for us here in England (last time it was 1993, and before that the deepest snow was in 1965) – I decided I had to get out and feed the birds, thaw the bird baths ... since then .. they quickly adapted to an ‘easy way of life’ for any creature residing in the big freeze.

The Magpie by Monet, 1869

I hear lovely song birds – the blackbirds and the robins – but I also have my flocks of ‘thugs’ .. the pigeons, the jackdaws, a pair of magpies (on occasions two pairs) and recently two enormous rooks – compared to the other birds .. they are huge!

The Rooks Have Returned (1871) by the Russian painter Alexei Savrasov, near Ipatieve Monastery in Kostroma: the arrival of the rooks is an early portent of the coming spring.

Leylandii foliage

It doesn’t take them long to learn ... and they wait for me to spread my largesse on the lawns and into the borders ... then they all swoop. The squirrels are funny ... they totter around, but hop, skip and jump too ... let alone jumping into the Leylandii foliage ... which spring-releases its treasures of hidden seeds, that from my flailing arm have been caught in the green tresses.

The blackbird when it is recalled in culture reminds us of the times when small birds were an easily available addition to the diet, as in the familiar nursery rhyme:

“Sing a Song of Sixpence
A Pocket full of Rye;
Four and Twenty Blackbirds Baked in a Pie!
When the Pie was opened the Birds began to Sing
Oh wasn’t that a Dainty Dish to set before the King?”

While being remembered too today in the Beatles track ‘Blackbird’, with its haunting melody and lyrics:

“Blackbird Singing in the Dead of Night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise!"

Illustration from Sing a Song for Sixpence (1880) by Randolph Caldecott (d. 1886) [Price: one shilling]

Another pie song is for the magpie – when I was growing up there weren’t so many, as they were considered a pest and were shot, but now they’re around in profusion ... acting as the jack of all trades – scavenger, predator and pest-dstroyer.

Magpie in flightBelieve it or not magpie is a shortened form of Margaret’s pie, maggot pie and similar ... as Shakespeare, in Macbeth III, iv, informs us:

“Augurs and understood relations have
(By maggot pies, and choughs, and rooks) brought forth
The secret’st man of blood.”

Colloquially in the Middle Ages Bishops were formerly called ‘magpies’ in humour or derision because of their black and white vestments; per Howell’s Letters: Lines to the Knowing Reader, 1645:

“Lawyers as Vultures, had soared up and down;
Prelates, like Magpies, in the Air had flown.”

‘To rook a pigeon’ – used to be a common phrase, meaning to fleece a greenhorn ...

... but here the Woodpigeons (eleven or more), Jackdaws (nine of them) and two Rooks now swarm in to have a guzzle – they do appear to leave some tempting morsels for the Blackbirds, Chaffinches, Thrushes, Sparrows, BlueTits, Greenfinch, Robins et al .. who, when the going is clear, wander in and out to search for the seed that was scattered by this fair hand.

Jackdaw

Being so near the sea (English Channel) we have both the Common Gull and the Herring Gull – the Herring Gull being the plague, in the summer, to the snacking ‘board walker’ and lunchtime relaxer ... wishing for some peace and quiet by the lapping waves ... as his sandwich or chip is a tempter to be snatched away.

The Birds: Theatrical Release Poster 1963

At the Nursing Centre I had my first sighting of a Green Woodpecker – so I was excited early in the New Year on a warm day to see him pecking away for insects, ants are his speciality, in the lawn (sometimes called a ‘Yaffle’ relating to its laughing call); while last year I spotted two Jays - a flash of blue and white as they flew amongst a glade of trees.

Green Woodpecker (Yaffle!)

Jay

Well ... certainly down here the birds have survived and are already breeding, which perhaps shows we may have an early spring ... the mosquitoes and flies are out, and I’ve seen a wasp .. just one!!

The daffodils are spiking, the snowdrops are well and truly drifting, the celandines are out ... but watch for your open windows with magpies and jackdaws about ....

John Gay in his Beggar’s Opera (1728) notes that “A covetous fellow, like a jackdaw, steals what he was never made to enjoy, for the sake of hiding it” ... which Richard Harris Barham (1788 – 1845), the English cleric, novelist and humorous poet, made into lore in the Ingoldsby Legends, one of which is the “Jackdaw of Rheims”.

The forerunner of the Royal Opera House was able to build a new theatre (The Theatre Royal, Covent Garden) based on the success of the Beggar’s Opera – running originally for 62 consecutive performances in those winterless months of 1728 ... the longest run in theatre history up to that time.

Painting based on The Beggar's Opera, Scene V, William Hogarth, c. 1728, in the Tate Britain

So many legends, stories, tales, nursery rhymes, poems have sprung up around our feathered friends and I haven’t even mentioned Cock Robin ... which continue on today – all to be watched over by the crafty fox, who also frequents these territories under the cover of a darkening night.

My intention had been to partake in the Great British Garden Birdwatch .. but I never noticed the adverts for it & so the weekend has passed .. this is my post from last year with some more bird photos and some extra information. Now I have a garden ... to keep an eye on – I will do a follow up later on in the year .. to see who visits once the winter feeding frenzy is over. Enjoy Spring as it does seem to be a-coming ... roll on, roll on!

Dear Mr Postman ... all is peaceful and I read to Mum or offer to chat – often declined ... but I’m there and then sit and read a book to keep her company. We still laugh and interact, and she loves her flowers .... daffodils, agapanthus, crocuses, grape hyacinths, hyacinths, more daffodils and primrose .. some in pots, some jugs full of flowers ...

Hi Chris .. amazing comment - totally in the genre .. thank you!! I too am so glad I didn't find a maggot pie to even think about including .. but they are still eaten by various natives in their own cultures - probably not in pie form!!

Loved your comment though .. very clever - I can imagine a Sara, Patricia or a Davina thoroughly enjoying your turn of phrase ..

Thanks so much .. fun!! I am of a feather to like thy comment .. great - Hilary

I'm a walker, and on the last few walks we've taken, we noticed it was very silent outside. No birdsong at all this winter. I think we've had too much snow and the birds are hunkering down, saving their energy and seeking food, maybe.

That magpie is a pretty bird, I like the markings on its feathers. It's got a regal look to it.

Well, Hilary, I've perched here long enough, time to fly back to my blog :)

Hi Hilary, another great post. I do remember a very bad snow fall here in Norfolk in the winter 1978/79. I was working away from home and the snow was so bad it came up to the top of the hedges so you couldn't even see the roads! I was snowed in at my lodgings for two weeks and unable to get home. It has been a bad year here too. Friends in the USA are snowed in currently. Both they and I always feed our feathered friends.

Hi Joanne .. that's a lovely occupation - but not to hear birdsong .. I hope they're doing what you think and haven't died because of the cold, ice and lack of water. Let us know how things develop as the Spring unfolds ...

The magpie is very pretty especially as it has wonderful iridescent feathering - but doesn't share!

Back to Whole Latte Life sounds a very good idea - as it's breakfast time here! Cheers for now & have a good rest of the week .. Hilary

Hi Mandy .. thank you - 78/79 was the year I went off to South Africa -so I'm pleased to say I missed that batch!

When the snow does bank up here - there isn't anything we can do .. and that's what I remember in the 62/63 storm .. but fortunately I wasn't snowed in at my lodgings .. I hope it wasn't too difficult? just memories now!

I've noticed you've had lots of snow up there in Norfolk ... and the States are still getting snowfalls. Just glad I live here!

The pigeons are waiting for their daily feed .. patience does have to be there virtue!

Hi Yvonne .. that year was terrible wasn't it?! Went on forever .. I hope your wedding was in the part of the year when there wasn't snow - but you have even more reason to remember with all the organisation necessary for a wedding.

You're right just watching to see what turns up will be interesting as the year progresses .. I've seen much more activity now that the weather is warmer.

Hi Jannie .. thanks - a friend sent me a postcard .. so I had to use the picture = good timing! I loved the rook one too ...

.. and as you say I enjoy posting art and information together - we do live in a wonderful world which nature has created, but which we, as humans, have added to through our works ... most of which I know little about - and I hope others enjoy as much as I do.

Thanks Jannie - yes .. that's exactly what I was doing for my little corner of the world - a reference point.

My Mum is amazing and so grateful for everything .. you too have a great week with your centrepieces, hubby's birthday et al .. Hope you had a glorious evening together with Kelly ... cheers Hilary

I guess birds have always captured man's imaginations because they can fly.Have you seen the wonderful documentary Winged Migration? They have some amazing footage of birds throughout the world. I was a bit surprised from the extra making of feature on the DVD that admitted some of the birds filmed had been trained and the scenes were staged. In a way that makes it all more amazing. I have a copy of that DVD on my shelf next to the animated film Chicken Run--that's a bird of a different feather for sure.

Hi Lee - good to see you and with such a wonderful comment. I expect you're right .. they can fly towards the Gods and the sun ..

I have - we had the film at our local film society a few years back .. amazing as you say. Interesting about the extra footage on the DVD .. I hadn't seen notes about that - even though I know there's so much back story we can catch up on now via DVDs and forums etc ..

Fun - and the Chicken Run is a great film too - and another bird of a feather completely ..

Thanks - delighted to read you appreciated the connections I made .. have a good rest of the week and weekend .. cheers Hilary

Hi Susanne .. delighted to hear. Sorry about the two snowy pictures, we're just in grey gloom, and like you I can't wait for Spring to come along. We had one lovely day this week .. but you've got snow again I see.

I can't say I'm fond of the movie "The Birds" .. not keen on horrors! Even now with the pigeons and jackdaws on the lawn .. they flock around .. I'd like them to have one of human traits "patience" .. and give me a chance to distribute my largesse!!

Wonderful, Hilary! I saw a goldfinch the other day hopping about in the greenery outside. We have, oddly, a lot of parakeets around, too - escaped from houses and now living in the mearby parks! I love their song.

Hi Talli .. thanks - amazing how much wildlife there is in London .. but you're near Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Holland Park and the Embankment .. let alone the embassy and palace gardens in "Kensington Palace land".

Goldfinches are beautiful and I hope get to see one down here .. with their red faces ..

One of the 'booklets' I refer to is the Observer Guide to the Top 50 Garden Birds .. in conjunction with the RSPB published late 2008 .. and the Ring Necked Parakeet pops up at number 35!! Our only naturalised parrot .. and I guess in London you would have a few (understatement) .. I loved that film of them in LA. As the Guide says they can be very noisy!!

Wow...this a post for me as I love birds, which you probably know by now. I enjoyed seeing the pictures of some your "locals."

I was fascinated by your Jay bird. Ours are almost totally, blue with white and black trimmings...but no pink at all...and they're big and LOUD. I enjoy them because they're very smart and warn the other birds about hawks. Then again, they also mimic a hawk to chase birds away from a feeder so they can feed.

Hi Sara .. yes .. you have your lovely feeders outside your door and watch the birds in the garden - just delighted you enjoyed the photos etc.

I had to check the picture I used was correct - but it matches the Guide I've been using. I just glimpsed them in the trees up at the Nursing Home - perhaps I'll see them here. Also I have no idea if ours act in the way yours do .. the Home is called Kestrel .. so perhaps there might have been kestrels in the woodland around.

I'll be keeping a better eye open in the future .. Mum's room doesn't really have a view - straight out onto a cherry tree .. but she prefers it - cool and dark.

Delighted and good to see you - hope the eyes are continuing to improve .. cheers to you too!! Hilary

Hi Amy .. you're right - life and culture continues on ... especially two generations back, because the world was that much smaller then. England went where they went & all the traditions, books, stories etc ..

Delighted you were able to be reminded of your mother's memories of her parents and her reminiscences.

Again are your magpies like ours? I see yours is called the Black-Billed Magpie .. but nearer to the Californian Yellow-billed Magpie - but it looks similar to ours .. though the DNA provides the differences! Ours act like yours - brazen, bold and beautiful!

Hi Liara .. you're right just lying quietly listening to the song and especially in the mornings - they're out there now and the magpies are chuntering! - even on a wet morning. The songs so varied to awaken the depths within us.

When we lived in Kentucky, we attended a little country church where the congregants were open to singing even a popular song or two now and then. I was pleasantly surprised one morning when Cat Stevens' hymn about a blackbird was chosen. I'm not sure if he wrote it, but I could hear his version in my head as we sang together. Such good memories your post evoked in me, Hilary!

Hi W2W - thanks for that lovely vignette .. it appears to be a Christian hymn first published in 1931 .. (see more in Wikipedia: Morning has broken) .. which Cat Stevens included a version on his 1971 Album "Teaser and the Firecat".

Delighted that I brought back some memories of Kentucky, family life and the tiny country church - fun to hear about .. thank you - enjoy the weekend .. Hilary

In a sparse, wintry landscape one notices the few birds a little more. In our area the hawks sit on trees scanning the grassland. I like your interesting overview of the native birds, particularly the magpie. A lot of history and allusion here.

Hi Paul .. I haven't seen hawks here - but I don't tend to travel far at the moment, or look for them ... they must be around ... probably along the flats (flood levels) as we call them ... lowland between the sea and the land.

Thank you - it seemed a good way for me to be reminded of the birds I'm learning about .. and as you know weaving history and a little 'trivia' goes a long way in my blog!

Such a fun post. I love the birds an' flowers, although I don't know very many of 'em by their names. I am especially drawn by the beautiful music when I step outside. Curiously, we don't seem to have as many birds here as where I used to live. I miss that. P'rhaps they jus' haven't realized we've changed addresses, yet, ya' think?

There were lots of birds singing this morning, I wish I could remember the names and the songs of each. A few of the winter travelers have returned. It is pouring rain and windy now here and so no songs or flits

I enjoyed your post very much. Don't know why I seem to get here late, ah then I can enjoy all the comments. Thank youGlad your mum is being with grace.

Hi Connie .. thank you - it's lovely seeing you here .. I just love finding things out and then letting you know about them too! It's always good to know you enjoy my eclectic views. I love putting the pictures in - seems to bring the posts to life.

Hi Leigh .. thank you the magpie in flight I too thought was an amazing photo. Well .. poor blackbirds baked in a pie .. one of the chefs here recreated that aspect .. and the blackbirds flew out in front of the guests .. it was part of a theatrical performance that was put on by the kitchens in the Middle Ages, which the chef replicated.

When I used to walk to school, there was a Blue Jay that was out to get me. I had made the mistake of trying to help her baby that had fallen from its nest, not knowing you're not supposed to do that. The mother Blue Jay followed me every day to school.

Hi JD .. good to see you - I think I can understand your feelings .. after your experience. I've never found a baby bird and wanted to put it back - but the birds sure have learnt quickly. I imagine some boy -nightmares have ensued?!

I have had a similar experience with elephants in Botswana .. and that was slightly scarier!! The matriarch wouldn't leave us alone & split our 'convoy' .. we did get through & I have to say I was relieved!!

Thanks for coming by - I hope to be back up and running properly shortly .. all the best - Hilary

So that's where magpie came from. I learn something new here every time I visit. And i remember that image from a kids of the Sing a Song of Sixpence and the blackbirds flying out of a pie. And I've always like that Beatles song. But then I like all the Beatle's songs.

Hi Stephen .. good of you to come over .. I'll be back up and running shortly.

Isn't it great when the memory bank from our youth comes back into view again .. did you sing the song with your kids .. and tell them about the pie? I'm sure birds were flying around the kitchens in the Middle Ages .. escaping to live again.

Me too - Beatles' era I fell into. I think I appreciate their songs more now .. can understand their meaning better ..

Hi Hilary,What a beautiful blogsite you have created! I'm not a hard core birder but I do enjoy their beauty and song. I've just started reading To See Every Bird On Earth (A Father,A Son and a Lifelong Obsession)by Dan Koeppel. I'm fully resigned to the fact that I'm going to get hooked and stay up half the night reading. This post was a great warm-up act. Wish you the best and thanks.Riley

Hi Riley .. good to meet you - delighted you found the blog and would love to know how you got here!?

Did you stay up half the night reading? .. it seems a fun book - I googled it ..

I'm not a birder - but just love posting about things that interest me in my quirky way .. give everyone I hope something to think about - & I had the photos because they add to whole .. & I learn as I go.

Good to meet and thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment - enjoy the weekend .. Hilary

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About Me

A lover of life – who after London, spent time in South Africa; an administrator, sports lover, who enjoys cooking and entertaining ... who through her mother’s illness found a new passion – writing, in particular blogging; which provides an opportunity for future exploration, by the daughter, who has (in her 3rd age years) found a love of historical education. Curiosity didn’t kill this cat – interaction is the key! Now moved to Vancouver Island, Canada for 'a while' - not forever ...